Canopy



(No Model.)

W. M. A. COLE.

OANOPYL N0. 326. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM M. A. COLE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CANOPY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,849, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed August 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM M. A. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Canopies, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to canopies for the protection of the person from annoyance by flies, mosquitos, and other insects; and it has for its object to provide a canopy-support which shall be removable from place to place to enable it to be used in connection with a chair, lounge, bed, or other article; second, to give such a construction to the canopy-support that it may be readily knocked down and stowed within a small space and, finally, to provide the supporting-frame with longitudinal telescoping rods, which carry the foot-rail of the frame,whereby the dimensions of the latter may be reduced to suit the requirements of each case and the space within which the canopy is used.

To these ends, therefore, my invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the upright with its head-piece detached, showing the manner of uniting the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of thelongitudinal canopy-rods, partly in section, showing a modified construction.

In the said drawings, the reference-numerall denotes an upright or standard of any suitable height and stepped in a base, 2,which may be formed of metal and provided with radiating arms 3, each having a perforation to admit a screw by which the standard may be secured to the floor. It should be noted, however, that by making the base of suitable weight and extending the divergent arms 3 to the degree and in the manner shown, it will support the canopy,with the light frame upon which it is stretched,without necessitating a permanent attachment to the flooring.

At a suitable point above the base a crosspiece, 4, is mounted upon the standard 1 by mortising each into the other, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the union of the parts being rendered permanent by means of a turn-button, 5, pivoted upon upright 1 just below or above the center of the cross-piece 4.

Projecting horizontally from the cross-piece near its extremities are screw-eyes 6, which receive the hooked ends of longitudinal rods 7, the hooks being so formed that they may be readily attached to or detached from the screw-eyes when desired. After the parts are connected the opening of the hook upon each rod may be closed by a small block of rubber, 8, which is forced between the end of the hook and the shank portion, to prevent the accidental detachment of the parts.

The bars 7 are of such length as to accommodate the class of devices with which these canopies are used, and at the lower end of each one is formed an eye, 9, which receives the reduced end 10 of the foot-piece11,which is substantially parallel with the cross-piece 4, and of about the same length. The canopy 12 is attached to the cross-piece 4 and footpiece 11 by tapes 13, sewed to the canopybinding 14.

From each extremity of the foot-piece supporting-cords 15 are led to a screw-eye or equivalent device, 16, attached to the upper end of the standard 1, and the length of these cords is so adjusted that when drawn taut by the dropping of the foot-piece they will support the latter in substantially the same horizontal plane with the cross-piece 4. From the central point of the former a hoistingcord, 17, is led through the eye 16 and drops beside the standard. By drawing upon this cord the foot-piece is lifted in the arc of a circle of which the side bars, 7, are the radii until said bars assume a vertical position. A screw-eye, 18, or somesimilar device,attached to the standard 1, affords means for securing the cord after the frame is raised.

The side rails of the frame, which connect the cross-piece 4 and the foot-piece 11, may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3, in which the reference-numeral 19 denotes a tubular section having a hook, 20, by which it is attached to the cross-piece 4 and about one-half the length of the longitudinal rod 7. This tubular section receives a telescoping rod, 21, having a shoulder, 22, at its end, which abuts against an annular flange, 23, upon the tube or. sleeve 19, whereby separation of the parts is prevented. A set-screw, 24, tapped through the tubular part and bearing upon the telescopingrod, secures the latter at any point to which it may be adjusted. By this construction the canopy-frame may be contracted to accommodate it to the size of the article with which it is used, as well as to the space in which it stands. Thus, when employed with a chair or a childs carriage, it may be conveniently d-iminished to one-half, or even one-third, of its full length, which is adapted to a bed or lounge.

In order to prevent the canopy from sagging in the center when the side rods, 19 21, are adjusted to a reduced length, I attach to the binding 14, at suitable intervals, rings 25, through which a doubled cord, 26, runs loosely, said cord being secured to the binding at or near its central point, and the two ends being carried around the foot-piece 11 and tied,

as shown. When the side rods are telescoped,

these cords are drawn taut and secured around the ends of the foot-piece, thus furling the slack of the canopy upon the latter and keeping its upper or roof portion properly stretched at all times. A similar adjustment is given to the supporting-cords 15, by prolonging the same and passing them through the screweye 5o 16, whereby the operator may lengthen or shorten said cords to correspond with the expansion and contraction of the telescoping frame.

By my invention I produce a movable ean opy which can be adjusted to the requirements of each case, which is simple in construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive in manufacture. By the construction of the supporting-standard, cross-piece, and side rods the whole frame may be readily knocked down, folded within a small space, and stowed away until it is again required.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make a screen for beds of a series of frames pivoted to one another, so that they may be folded up. My invention differs therefrom in the construction particularly pointed out in the claims, where the parts can not only be brought into compact form for storage and transportation, and for economy of space when not in use, but can also be adjusted in length to meet requirements when in position for use.

What I claim is 1. In a canopy for beds and other articles,

the combination, with an upright standard, of.

a cross piece mortised upon the same, a turnbutton engaging therewith, and side rods having hooked ends, which engage with screweyes upon the ends of the cross-piece, substantially as described. I

2. In a canopy for beds and other articles, the combination, with a vertical standard having a detachable cross'piece, of telescoping side rods carrying a foot-piece, and a canopy supported by the cross-piece and footpiece, substantially as described.

3. In a canopy for beds and other articles, the combination, with a vertical standard having a cross-piece, of telescoping side 'rods, a foot-piece carried thereby, a canopy supportedby said foot-piece, and furling-cords attached to and carried through rings upon said canopy and fastened around'the ends of the foot-piece, whereby the dimensions of the canopy and of the canopy-frame may be contracted, substantially as described.

4. In a canopy for beds and other articles, the combination, with the standard 1, of the cross-piece 4, mortised thereon, the button 5, and the side rods having eyes 9, which receive the reduced ends of the foot-piece 11, the latter being supported by cords 15, substantially as described.

5. In a canopy for beds and other articles, the combination, with a vertical standard carrods composed of a tubular section, 19, and a sliding rod, 21, a set-screw, 24, being tapped through the former, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. M. A. COLE.

WVitnessesz A. H. NORRIS, Jos. L. GooMBs. I 

